RADIO
Hunter Henry Gaining Steam Heading into Juicy Week 8 Matchup
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry did not find the end zone in the Thursday night loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 7, but he caught a season-high seven passes (on seven targets) for a season-high 71 yards, and he now has double-digit fantasy points in his last three games. Before his seven-catch, 71-yard performance in Chicago last week, the 31-year-old veteran tight end had back-to-back games with touchdown receptions in wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets. In half-PPR scoring, Henry ranks as the TE12 through seven weeks, catching 26 of his 31 targets for 296 yards and two touchdowns. He is New England's clear TE1, although rookie tight end Eli Raridon has seen valuable red-zone targets as well in his first year in the NFL. Coming off three straight strong performances, Henry deserves more consideration as a TE streamer in fantasy football, and he will have a juicy matchup upcoming in Week 8 against the division-rival Miami Dolphins. Henry is rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues, so he should be widely available if fantasy managers are in a bind at the position due to bye weeks.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Vrabel Not Concerned with A.J. Brown's Struggles
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has no concerns about wide receiver A.J. Brown and his early-season struggles. On Monday morning, Vrabel said, "I thought he dropped a few passes. I don't think anybody has to press here or anything else. I think we just have to get back into a rhythm offensively with the guys we have." In three games, Brown has caught nine of 20 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns, with three drops. In his first game with New England, he suffered a high-ankle sprain that placed him on injured reserve, causing him to miss four games. Now healthy and with quarterback Drake Maye playing at a high level since Week 4, Brown should bounce back unless he continues to struggle. Fantasy managers should view Brown as a buy-low candidate, as he should produce WR2 numbers moving forward.
Source: Mike Reiss - ESPN
Source: Mike Reiss - ESPN
DeMario Douglas Disappoints After Two-Game Scoring Surge
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas caught three of four targets for 23 yards in Thursday's 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears, giving him 5.3 PPR fantasy points after consecutive productive outings. He had totaled 11 receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns against the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets, drawing eight targets against New York in Week 6. That total fell to four on Thursday, despite New England being without Romeo Doubs (shoulder) and Mack Hollins (calf). Drake Maye threw for 321 yards, with Hunter Henry drawing seven targets, A.J. Brown six, and Rhamondre Stevenson five. Douglas's receiving yardage was his lowest since Week 4, and his sudden drop in opportunities is the bigger concern for fantasy managers who started him on the strength of his recent production.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
TreVeyon Henderson has Another Disappointing Performance
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson had three carries for nine yards and two receptions for 14 yards in the 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears. After a productive rookie season with several explosive plays, Henderson has been phased out of the rushing attack, with Rhamondre Stevenson taking over the starting role. On Thursday night, Stevenson played 69% of snaps, while Henderson played just 24%. Over the last three games, the split has been similar. Henderson reportedly suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 5 but has played through the injury, which may be limiting his role and efficiency. Fantasy managers should not drop Henderson yet, given his high draft capital and explosiveness, but he is not a starting option at this point, as Stevenson handles the bulk of the work.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rhamondre Stevenson Rumbles for Long TD in Loss
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed six times for 22 yards and caught five passes for 93 yards and a touchdown (five targets) in a 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football. Stevenson led New England's backfield in carries and was the most efficient RB on Thursday, but he made most of his hay in the receiving game, posting a career-high in yards. The sixth-year pro's new personal best was aided in large part by a spectacular catch-and-run in the waning seconds of the first half. Stevenson caught a dump-off on the right side on a play that looked like he was supposed to pitch it back. However, he scampered up the sideline and cut back against the grain, untouched for a 48-yard touchdown. While New England's backfield may be a mess right now, Stevenson is getting most of the snaps and has the most stable role in the receiving game. He'll look to keep this momentum in a divisional clash with the Miami Dolphins in Week 8.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Drake Maye has Another Superb Effort in TNF Defeat
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye tossed for 321 yards and two touchdowns while throwing one interception in Thursday night's 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears. He added 26 yards and an additional score on four rushes. It was another impressive, efficient (77% completion rate) outing for the former North Carolina Tarheel, as he's scored at least three total touchdowns in four straight games following a less-than-savory start to the campaign. Over the stretch, Maye has posted a stellar 12:1 TD:INT ratio while averaging 299.5 passing yards per clip. Moreover, he's done well to stay on his feet, taking just four total sacks during his hot streak. Up next for New England is a divisional bout with the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. He'll be among the top fantasy options at his position once again.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
A.J. Brown has Another Dud in Thursday's Loss in Chicago
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown was looking for a bounce-back game on Thursday night on the road against the Chicago Bears, but it did not come. Brown came off Injured Reserve last weekend for Sunday's 26-19 victory over the division-rival New York Jets, but he battled drops and finished with only three catches on 10 targets for 27 yards. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler was held in check again in Thursday's loss to the Bears, as he caught only three of his six targets on the night for 48 yards and no touchdowns. Brown's 48 receiving yards were fourth on the team, and his six targets were only one fewer than tight end Hunter Henry. He has not looked all that comfortable in two games since returning from a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. With more time to rest before the team's Week 8 game on the road against the division-rival Miami Dolphins, fantasy managers will be hoping that Brown can finally make some noise in 2026. He has been one of the biggest fantasy busts at the receiver position through the first seven games of the year.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
A.J. Brown Ready to Bounce Back on Thursday Night?
New England Patriots veteran wide receiver A.J. Brown returned from a high-ankle sprain that landed him on Injured Reserve in the Week 6 win over the division-rival New York Jets, but he struggled with drops and caught only three of his 10 targets for 27 yards in his second game with the Patriots. Brown also disappointed in his debut with New England in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, when he caught three of his four targets for 26 yards before injuring his ankle. Thursday Night Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit thinks Brown is primed to bounce back to form on Thursday night against the hosting Chicago Bears in Week 7. "I would be shocked if AJ Brown doesn't play incredibly well tonight. He was getting back into rhythm last week coming back from injury," Herbstreit said on The Pat McAfee Show. Brown is a difference-maker when healthy, and quarterback Drake Maye is expected to try to get his WR1 the ball early and often on Thursday night. Fantasy managers should be starting Brown this week, even after his lackluster return from injury in Week 6. Do not forget that receiver Romeo Doubs (shoulder) is on IR and will miss the next four games, which will raise Brown's fantasy ceiling.
Source: Kirk Herbstreit
Source: Kirk Herbstreit
Andy Borregales Still Worth Avoiding in Week 7
New England Patriots kicker Andy Borregales is not a reliable fantasy football option for Thursday's Week 7 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Borregales is coming off a solid game in which he made two field goals, but he also missed an extra point attempt. He has been held to single-digit fantasy points in every game this season, and he ranks as the overall K25 in scoring this year. To make matters worse, Borregales gets a very tough matchup in Week 7. The Bears have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to kickers in 2026, and they limited Falcons kicker Nick Folk to just one extra point and zero field goals last Sunday. The Patriots' upward-trending offense seems likely to get into scoring position often, but Borregales' track record and the tougher matchup will keep him off the fantasy radar in most leagues. As it stands, he ranks as the #20 kicker in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 7.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
New England Patriots Defense Not Worth Streaming in Week 7
The New England Patriots D/ST has been a top-10 unit in fantasy football this season, but they can be avoided in most leagues ahead of Week 7 against the Chicago Bears. New England is significantly banged up on the defensive side of the ball, with cornerbacks Carlton Davis (neck), Channing Canada (hamstring), and Karon Prunty (hamstring) all ruled out. Meanwhile, talented safeties Kevin Byard (chest) and Craig Woodson (shoulder) are both questionable, and the same goes for linebacker Christian Elliss (chest). A banged-up Patriots defense could certainly prevail in a softer matchup, but the unit will have a tougher test this week in the form of the Bears, who are led by MVP candidate Caleb Williams and most recently dropped 31 points on the Falcons. Managers who already have the Patriots D/ST on their roster should feel okay about deploying them this week, since the gap between New England and the top streaming defense won't be too large. However, if the Patriots are currently on waivers, they're probably not worth picking up to stream for this week. As it stands, the Patriots D/ST ranks #14 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 7.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hunter Henry a Fringe Fantasy Starter for Week 7
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has strung together three impressive performances, putting him back in the mix as a fantasy-relevant option for Week 7 against the Chicago Bears. Henry has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games, and he has double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in three consecutive weeks. The veteran seems to have turned a corner around the same time that quarterback Drake Maye did, although it's worth noting that the 31-year-old tight end is still somewhat touchdown-dependent in fantasy football. This week's matchup isn't particularly favorable, either, as the Bears have surrendered the third-fewest receptions, 12th-fewest receiving yards, 10th-fewest touchdowns, and 12th-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in 2026. All things considered, Henry enters Thursday Night Football as the overall TE13 in RotoBaller's latest PPR rankings for fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hot Stretch Vaults DeMario Douglas Into WR3 Conversation for Week 7
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas has emerged as a legitimate WR3/flex option in fantasy football for Thursday's Week 7 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Douglas had a relatively quiet start to the season, but recent injuries to Mack Hollins (calf) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) have allowed him to break out in a huge way. Over the last two weeks, he has exploded for 13 targets, 11 catches, 151 yards, and three touchdowns. It's a small sample size, but he ranks as the WR5 in PPR scoring during that two-week window. Douglas should remain one of Drake Maye's favorite targets in Week 7 with Hollins and Doubs both on IR. AJ Brown is presumably the alpha receiver here, but even he is at risk of getting outperformed by Douglas after dropping three of his 10 targets last Sunday. Douglas, meanwhile, caught seven of the eight passes thrown his way and proved himself as a reliable target all over the field. He has jumped all the way up to WR34 in RotoBaller's latest Week 7 fantasy football rankings, making him a very strong candidate to start for managers in 12+ team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
A.J. Brown Looks to Shake Off Major Drops Issue
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown has top-10 upside in fantasy football, but he'll first need to show a little more reliability in the passing game. Brown returned from a four-week injury-related absence last Sunday and had three dropped passes (plus a muffed onside kick recovery attempt) against the Jets. Drops have been a factor for Brown throughout his career, but this was easily one of the worst performances of his career in that regard. He will look to turn things around with a much more reliable performance against the Chicago Bears in Week 7. Fortunately for Brown, this is a relatively favorable matchup, as the Bears have allowed the 11th-most receiving yards, ninth-most receiving touchdowns, and 13th-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026. Brown will also have a little less competition for targets after Romeo Doubs (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve, although volume was never really a major concern for the alpha receiver, especially after he was targeted 10 times in Week 6. Brown is a high-end WR2 for now, but his track record makes it clear that he has WR1 upside and could return to top-12 territory on a weekly basis if he strings together a couple of strong outings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rhamondre Stevenson Needs His Receiving Workload to Rebound
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson continues to operate as the No. 1 option out of the backfield, but fantasy managers will look for his receiving workload to bounce back in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football. Stevenson logged 14 carries last Sunday against the Jets, but he was a massive disappointment in fantasy football with just 36 rushing yards and zero receptions. Stevenson's PPR and half-PPR outlooks are highly dependent on him catching passes, and this was the first time in his career that he finished a game without a single target. Last week was presumably an outlier, and Stevenson's receiving workload should improve this week, although it's worth noting that the Bears have allowed the eighth-fewest receptions to running backs in 2026. The bottom line is that Stevenson has fringe top-24 appeal in fantasy football, but last week showed that he also possesses a lower floor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
TreVeyon Henderson's Fantasy Stock Plummeting Ahead of Week 7
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson has been one of the biggest busts in 2026 fantasy football drafts, and he can be avoided in most leagues ahead of his Week 7 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Outside of a solid Week 2 showing, Henderson has been held to fewer than 5.0 points (PPR) in every game so far. His snap share plummeted to 16% in Week 5, and it only increased to a meager 24% mark in Week 6. Although Henderson has been dealing with an ankle injury at times, it hasn't been enough to keep him from being active, and so it shouldn't be used as an excuse for his lackluster fantasy performance so far. Rhamondre Stevenson is clearly the primary running back in New England, and the Patriots even gave Corey Kiner a chance to prove himself with 17 carries (and an impressive 109 rushing yards) over the last two weeks. Henderson ranks outside the top 48 fantasy running backs for Week 7 against the Bears. He can be benched in 12+ team leagues and dropped to waivers in leagues with 10 or fewer teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
